Objectives: To develop and validate formulas for age and sex estimation based on the pulp cavity volume of teeth using cone beam CT. Methods: The sample was composed of 116 cone beam CT scans from Brazilian individuals of both sexes, ranging in age from 13 to 70 years. A total of 232 teeth (upper central incisors and canines) were evaluated. Two calibrated examiners determined pulp cavity volumes using the ITK-SNAP software. Pearson’s correlation test was used to assess the correlation between chronological age and pulp volume. Linear and logistic regression models were developed for age and sex estimation, respectively, and were validated in another sample of 72 teeth. Results: Pearson’s correlation coefficients between age and pulp volume were negative and significant (p < 0.0001) for both teeth (r = −0.8782 for central incisors and r = −0.8738 for canines). The age estimation formulas showed good determination coefficients (adjusted R² = 0.7614 to 0.8367). For sex estimation, when the age was known, the coefficients were also good (adjusted R² = 0.649 to 0.812). However, when the age was unknown, the coefficients of the sex estimation formulas were low (adjusted R² = 0.047 to 0.393). Validation showed high accuracy of age estimation in individuals older than 35 years, as well as high accuracy of sex estimation when the age was known. Conclusions: Our formulas provided excellent results and can be applied to the Brazilian population. The best results were observed for age estimation in females and for sex estimation when the age was known.

There is a significant increase in overweight and obesity in adolescents worldwide. Here, we performed a cross-sectional study to examine the potential association between food consumption profiles and overweight in a large number of adolescents from Brazil. Sampling by clusters and conglomerates was carried out in students of public schools in Salvador, Brazil, between June and December 2009 and 1496 adolescents were evaluated. Data on socio-epidemiological data, anthropometric status and food consumption were captured. Multivariate analyses, such as hierarchical clustering and correlation networks, were used to perform a detailed description of food consumption profiles. There were differences in age and anthropometric status related to sex. Four clusters of food groups were identified based on the intake profile in the study population. No disparities in food intake were observed in individuals stratified by sex or anthropometric status. Furthermore, network analysis revealed that overweight or obesity were hallmarked by a selectivity in the ingestion of food groups that resulted in the appearance of inverse correlations of consumption, which was not present in eutrophic adolescents. Thus, overweight and obesity are associated with preferential choices of ingestion of specific food groups, which result in the appearance of inverse correlations of consumption. Such knowledge may serve as basis for future targeted nutritional interventions in adolescents.

Changes in food consumption, physical inactivity, and other lifestyle habits are potential causes of the obesity epidemic. Paradoxically, the media promotes idealization of a leaner body appearance. Under these circumstances, self-perception of weight by adolescents may be affected. Here, we performed a cross-sectional study, between June and December 2009, to evaluate the interaction between anthropometric status, perceived body weight, and food consumption profiles in 1496 adolescents from public schools in Salvador, Brazil. Data on socio-epidemiological information, anthropometric status, and dietary patterns were analyzed using multidimensional statistical approaches adapted from systems biology. There were dissimilarities between anthropometric status and perception of body weight related to sex. Four dietary patterns were identified based on the food intake profile in the study participants. The distinct dietary patterns were not influenced by divergence between measured and perceived weight. Moreover, network analysis revealed that overestimation of body weight was characterized by a selectivity in ingestion of food groups that resulted in appearance of inverse correlations of consumption. Thus, misperception of body weight is associated with inverse correlations of consumption of certain food groups. These findings may aid individualized nutritional interventions in adolescents who overestimate body weight.

Background: Sex determination by linear measurements of the bones is widely used because of the several kinds of death in which the corpses can be damaged. Aim: The aim of this study was to establish a logit for sexual dimorphism through measurements of the atlas vertebra. Settings and Design: The principle sample was composed of 191 skeletons belonging to the Forensic Physical Anthropology Laboratory Prof. Eduardo Daruge. However, first, a calibration with other 25 skeletons was carried out. Materials and Methods: Using a digital caliper, linear measurements were made of the anteroposterior diameter of the atlas vertebra (variable A), anteroposterior diameter of the rachidian canal (variable B), transverse diameter of the rachidian canal (variable C), and maximum transverse diameter of the atlas vertebra (variable D). Statistical Analysis Used: The data were analyzed using IBM ® SPSS ® 25 Statistics program. Results: The mean measurements of all four variables for men were higher than that for women, being observed that variable D obtained the major discrepancy between the sexes. Considering both sexes, the variable C obtained the best results of standard deviation, while the variable D achieved the worse results. The t -test observed acceptance about hypothesis that exists differences between the gender and all four measures assessed. The logit developed is sex = −24.970 + 0.183 × A + 0.230 × D, in which “A” represents anteroposterior diameter of the atlas and “D” represents the maximum transverse diameter of the atlas. Conclusion: This model results in 81.2% accuracy, 85.5% sensitivity, and 75.3% specificity.

Assessment of secondary dentin apposition is an observable phenomenon widely used to estimate age. An integrative review was performed by searching the keywords "computed tomography AND age estimation AND pulp tooth volume ratio" and "microfocus x-ray AND age estimation AND pulp tooth volume ratio" in the electronic platforms Embase, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, in July 2020. Studies included: complete articles with age estimation from human teeth by use of computed tomography or micro-computed tomography, written in English, without time restriction. Excluded studies: not written in English or not in form of an article, clinical cases, literature reviews, if did not realize age estimations or if age estimation is done in animals teeth. The search resulted in 32 different articles. With application of the above criteria only 26 were reviewed. Data collected included: reference, year, country, tooth type, number of subjects, number of teeth, age group, image type, measuring instrument/software, type of analysis, coefficient of determination, correlation coefficient with age and accuracy. These data provided a quick global comparison of various methodologies that use the pulp/tooth relation, being practical for researchers and forensic team to which method they can use accordingly to a specific case and its expected accuracy.